The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-08
HOUSED AT LAST.
The Frisco Express Robbers To-
hind the Bars in st. Louis.
Most of the Money Returned to the Express
Compensatory of the Robbery Told by
WittroclS, alias "Jlm Cummings"
-Fotherlngham Innocent.


train No. f. Missouri Pacific, from Kansas
City, rolled into the Union depot The
blizzard was raging furiously and Fred
Wittrock, known 10 fame - Jim Cum
mings, could consistently sag "t was
cold day whom hc got left" 30 sooner
had the wheels stopped turning than the
Pinkerton party, led by Bob stepped
out Of the sleeper Genoa. After 'EoD"
came Operatives I'd KcarHey and william
Wilbasky, with slim" between them.
Superintendent Damscl, Secretary BE
lay, Marshall Mcdonald and re-
porter made up the rest Of the party
When the piercing wind struck the prison
er he pulled his SLOUGH hat down oyer his
eyes, turned up his coat collar and grasp
ing his yellow leather valise with firm
grip, walked rapidly with his escort TO-
ward Poplar street. On reaching the
street Wittrock, Bob Pinkerton and two
Of the operatives jumped into a carriage
and were driven to the Office Of the Adams
Express Company. Mr. PinkertOn and
his prisoner stepped into the Office where
a valise containing about $4,000 Of the
booty was returned to its rightful owners.
The carriage was again called into requisi.
ton, and five minutes later the party
entered the Four Courts. Wittrock
was taken to the chiefs Office, where
! he was formally introduced to Chief Hue.
| bier by Mr., Pnkerton.
! The most peculiar feature Of Wittrock's
! makeup is the manner in which he carries
| his head 1t nearly always incliues to the
! left, due to some spinal affection. He was
! dressed in heavy, dark overcoat, check
ed sackcoat and vest and jean pantaloOns.
! There was no jewelry no diamonds nor
! other ornaments to which the professional
! thief is partial when he has stuff
Tho prisoner was turned over to an Of
| dcer and was taken to the Central station,
! where he said his name was Fred Witt
| rock, tWenty-sX years Of age, single and
! born in Canada. He was searched and
five dollars an open-face silver
watch aud half a dozen punches
| Of cigarettes were found in his
| possession. He submitted very quietly to
the searching process, not tutoring a word
or paying any attention to the tlwong Of
people surrounding him. He was taken
down to the calaboose and Mr, Pinkerton
ordered a breakfast from Hoe1Tner's for
him. Aftor breakfast he was visited by a
| reporter and asked to make a full state
mcnt Of the conception and execution Of
the robbery. He weighed every question
deliberately, laughed occasionally, and did
not talk or appear at all like man for
whom the future had saclI-cloth and ashes
in store He said:
"There are some things that can not
talk about / have made promises not to
speak on certain points, but it will come
out in aday or tWo.'
Have you made full statement to
Pnkerton~
81 don't like to say any thing about that
don't like to say any thing that will in
jure my friends. To begin with, I'll say
here that Farthingham is innocent, anC
my only object in writing the letters wa;
to prove his innocence, l didn't know hin
before the night of October %, though
had heard his name. Eve seen it since
published Fotherngham, but had it from
good authority that his name was Earth
ingham. Another thing-thc woman hlC
nothing to do with this job. Mrs. Haigh'
knew nothing about it; Haight knew moth
ing about it when the thing was done"
"Can you tell me of the occurrences or
the express car on the night of October
esq
"That is one Of the points on which
can't talk / want to say about Cook he
didn't know anything about it until | gave
him money!
''ls Wittrock your right name?"
eyes, | am tWcnty-siX years old, born in
Canada and moved TO Leavcnworth il
1863 went to school there and for sis
years kept books for Burdcttc 4 Hise. Mr.
BurdCtte is prominent Odd-FCllOW.
left LCavcnwOrth about two years ago anC
went to Chicago, where went into a small
coal business. | am not a married man
though my nelghbors in Chicago thought
was. ! came to ST. Louis about a week be
fore tho robbery andrented aroom at Mrs
BcTys. Weaver was with me, but a few
days before the business was done he
weakened and went back to Chicago.
went by the name of Williams at Mrs
BeTys. | see it is said that ok was
with me there, but that is a mistake. Cool
was in Kansas City at the time"
"Are the statements of Moriarity truer
"What are theyW
"Hc says he was offered inducements tC
60 into the scheme, and for 5000 would
tell all he knew
"Well, if he said that, he is a dirty
scoundrel It's true that he promised &c
assist me, but when the time came he
weakened and wouldn't keep the appoint
ment, When l made up my mind to dc
the work ! picked out the smallest mes
senger on the road TO hold up. His name
was Hart, and l would have got him only
for the porter, who stopped in the car un
til after it had started. That was the
Wednesday before the Monday the job was
done Next night / didn't know Fother
ingham's name, and had to wait unit
Monday to fix things, Then Weaver weak
ened, and. though | tried my best to stiffer
him up it was no use, and he skipped
back to Chicago, l made up my mind tc
20 it alone, and so about seven O'Clock
that night l went down TO the depot. L
was kind of rainy, and kept shady, and
didn't speak to any one.'
"Did you speak to Wabash engineerP
mo, did not. He is mistaken, or cls'
he is lying if he said / spoke to him.
walked TO the express car and got in tn,
side door,
"The engineer says Fotheringham helped
you in'
well, he didn't. / Jumped in and CAV,
him the letters.n
, ..IVb,t bocorna of tba lattars ~